Justice Dept. announces charges in dam cyberattack

The Justice Department announced Thursday it has indicted seven hackers linked to the Iranian government with cybercrimes related to online attacks on U.S. banks and a New York dam.

The crimes include attacks from 2011 to 2013 that targeted 46 banks, disabling bank websites and preventing customers from accessing their accounts online, and the unauthorized access to the control systems of the Bowman Dam, located in Rye, New York.

“The infiltration of the Bowman Avenue dam represents a frightening new frontier in cybercrime,” said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, of the Southern District of New York, who will handle the prosecution of the hackers if they are ever extradited to the U.S. “These were no ordinary crimes, but calculated attacks by groups with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard and designed specifically to harm America and its people.”

Officials said the hackers were employed by two Iran-based companies that performed work on for the Iranian Government, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The individuals charged in connection with the hacks are: Ahmad Fathi, 37; Hamid Firoozi, 34; Amin Shokohi, 25; Sadegh Ahmadzadegan, aka Nitr0jen26, 23; Omid Ghaffarinia, aka PLuS, 25; Sina Keissar, 25; and Nader Saedi, aka Turk Server, 26.

In unsealing the indictments, DOJ officials said they wanted to send a message to Iran and other countries that might sponsor or harbor hackers that they are aware of the attacks launched and are poised to prosecute offenders.

“The FBI will find those behind cyber intrusions and hold them accountable — wherever they are, and whoever they are,” said FBI Director James Comey. “By calling out the individuals and nations who use cyber attacks to threaten American enterprise, as we have done in this indictment, we will change behavior.”

Despite the fact the named hackers are not in custody, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said she remained optimistic that they would eventually face the charges brought against them.

“Our view is that fugitives don’t remain that way forever,” Ms. Lynch said, noting close partnerships with other countries that could potentially intercept wanted fugitives during overseas travel. “Because they are not here now does not mean we will never get them.”